Chinese police chief 'carved out slice of Neil Heywood's flesh as he lay on the mortuary table'

By Leon Watson

PUBLISHED: 06:36 EST, 27 May 2012 | UPDATED: 08:10 EST, 27 May 2012

A piece of British expat Neil Heywood's flesh was carved out of his body by the Chinese police chief in charge of the murder inquiry into his death, it emerged today.

Wang Lijun took the forensic sample from Mr Heywood?s corpse as he lay on a mortuary table to support his claim that the British business consultant, 41, had been poisoned.

He then delivered the slice and a police report on the case to the consulate in Chengdu, southwest China, and took shelter there.

Police chief Wang Lijun (left) is believed to have taken a sample of flesh from British expat Neil Heywood's body as he lay on a mortuary table

Sources told the Sunday Times they had heard a Communist party briefing on the scandal for China?s financial elite.

'It was said that he actually cut a piece from Heywood?s body on the mortuary table,' said one.

A separate source said Mr Wang, who had a long-term interest in forensic pathology, also showed the Americans 'a very detailed police investigation of the case'.

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Scientists said body tissue could be identified as Mr Heywood's through DNA tests and, if stored properly, could show the presence of poison.

American officials were reportedly left astounded when the police chief turned up on February 6 seeking asylum.

Whitehall sources told The Sunday Times that Mr Wang?s temporary defection set off a turf war in Washington that led all the way to the White House.

Accused: Bo Xilai's wife Gu Kailai (left) is said to have confessed to being present when British businessman Neil Heywood (right) was poisoned. The pair had allegedly had an affair

Questions: Chinese officials are investigating whether Mr Heywood was poisoned with cyanide after falling out with Mr Bo (right) and his wife Gu Kailai (left)

According to the paper, CIA officials argued for holding on to a priceless intelligence asset but State Department diplomats feared Mr Wang's presence would damage an imminent U.S. visit by Xi Jinping, the man designated as China?s next leader.

State Department sources insist he was given protection until central government officials arrived from Beijing.

Mr Wang left the sanctuary of the consulate after more than 24 hours, eluding armed agents sent by his enemies.

Suspicious: The reception area of the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel in Chongqing, China, where British businessman Neil Heywood was found dead

He gave himself up to a vice-minister from the powerful state security ministry and was flown to the capital.

A spokesman for the U.S. embassy said: 'Wang Lijun left the consulate of his own volition.'

Mr Wang is now facing trial on charges of treason for going to the Americans to seek refuge but experts predict he won't face the death penalty.

Mr Wang was a longtime ally of Bo Xilai, 62, who was then a rising star of the Chinese Communist Party who hoped to join its powerful politburo in Beijing.

He was apparently trying to prevent Mr Wang, from revealing that Mr Heywood had been murdered in November by Mr Bo's wife Gu Kailai.

The police chief reportedly told them Ms Gu, a high-flying lawyer, had confessed to the killing.

Ms Gu, who had allegedly had an affair with Mr Heywood, is said to have told Mr Wang that she was in the hotel room during the ?gruesome? poisoning.

Mr Wang reportedly told U.S. diplomats that Mr Heywood was held down in a Chongqing hotel room in November and forced to drink cyanide.

Mr Heywood had, before his death, been raising cash to build an ?80million shopping centre dedicated to British goods.??

Mrs Gu is alleged to have started an affair with him after she was denied ?any normal passion? from her husband, said Wang Kang, a Chongqing scholar with contacts inside Mr Bo's circle.

They are even said to have visited Britain together and occasionally shared an apartment in the seaside resort of Bournemouth, which was registered to Mrs Gu.

Mr Heywood's death ended the political career of Mr Bo, who was sacked from his post after it was claimed he had wire-tapped senior Communist Party leaders.

China?s state media say prosecutors suspect Mrs Gu of murdering Mr Heywood after a business dispute.

The criminal case against her may lead to a show trial before the end of the summer, according to Chinese journalists.

However, Mrs Gu, like the police chief, may escape a death sentence. She is gravely ill with cancer, according to the sources in Hong Kong, who reported that party leaders think her mental health may have been affected by the disease.

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